Hydrangea macrophylla plant named &#39;Frau Mariko&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of  Hydrangea macrophylla  by the combination of the attractive pigmentation pattern of its sepals which are predominately colored with narrow, irregular white edges; its deeply ruffled and serrated sepal edges and dense its inflorescence on a strong stem that does not require staking for support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a continuation application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/676,603, filed Sep. 28, 2000, entitled“PLANT HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA NAMED ‘FRAU MARIKO’”, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofHydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. Which was developed in a controlledbreeding program in Ninomiya-machi Prefecture, Japan by Mr. HiroshiEbihara. The varietal denomination of the new variety is ‘Frau Mariko’.

[0003] The genus Hydrangea is included in the family Saxifragaceae whichcomprises about 80 genera and 1,200 species of herbs, shrubs, smalltrees, woody climbers mostly temperate in origin. Hydrangea comprisesapproximately 23 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and vinesoriginating in North America, South America and East Asia, many of whichpossess desirable ornamental characteristics. Recent taxonomicaltreatments sometimes isolate Hydrangea in a new family, Hydrangeaaceae.

[0004]Hydrangea macrophylla is widespread and common throughout much ofJapan. It generally has opposite, simple leaves, obovate to elliptic inshape, 10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 15 cm wide. Leaf color ranges fromlight to dark green, depending on light intensity and culturalconditions. Flower color is dependent upon the pH of the soil and theamount of available aluminum in the soil media. Leave are generallysoftly pubescent. Flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla are borne in mostlysterile florets, formed in what is often called a ‘hortensia’ flower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The new variety was discovered in a controlled breeding programof Hydrangea macrophylla and differs from its parents in the combinationof the attractive pigmentation pattern of its sepals which arepredominately colored with narrow, irregular white edges, its deeplyruffled and serrated sepal edges, and its dense inflorescence on astrong stem that does not require staking for support. Asexualreproduction of the new variety by stem cuttings performed inNinomiya-machi Prefecture, Japan; Lewisberry, Pa. and Vacaville, Calif.;have confirmed that the distinctive characteristics of the new varietyare stable and transmitted to succeeding generations, and the newvariety reproduces true to type.

COMPARISON WITH PARENT

[0006] ‘Frau Mariko’ is distinguished from its parent and all othervarieties of Hydrangea macrophylla of which I am aware by thecombination of the attractive pigmentation pattern of its sepals whichare predominantly colored with narrow, irregular white edges, its deeplyruffled and serrated sepal edges, and its dense inflorescence on astrong stem that does not require staking for support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[0007] The accompanying photographic illustrations show a specimen ofthe new cultivar as true to color as is reasonably possible to make inan illustration of this character.

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates the inflorescence with distinct serratedsepals; narrow white edge on the flower margin and unique flower color.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0009] ‘Frau Mariko’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental, cultural, and light conditions. The followingobservations and descriptions are of 2-year-old plants grown in 5-galloncontainers in Lewisberry, Pa. In this description, color references areto The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (1995) and terminologyused in the color descriptions herein refers to plate numbers in thiscolor chart. Phenotypic expression may vary with light intensity,cultural, and environmental conditions.

CLASSIFICATION

[0010] Botanical: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb) Ser. ‘Frau Mariko’

[0011] Parentage:

[0012]Mother plant.—Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Crystal’(unpatented).

[0013]Father plant.—Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Silver Edge’ (unpatented).

[0014] Propagation: By vegatative cuttings

[0015] Time to initiate rooting: Approximately 2 weeks

PLANT

[0016] Size: Mature plant can grow to approximately 1 m tall and 1 mwide

[0017] Branching: Freely on one-year-old wood

[0018] Habit: Upright, mound forming deciduous shrub

[0019] Stems:

[0020]Length.—To 1 m.

[0021]Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm at base of plant.

[0022]Color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 145C.

[0023]Leaf shape.—Elliptic with acute base and apex.

[0024]Leaf margin.—Serrate.

[0025]Leaf texture.—Thick; glabrous top and underside; veins prominenton the underside of the leaf and are furrowed on the leaf surface.

[0026]Internodes.—From 1 to 5 cms.

[0027]Leaf color.—Upper side: From near Green Group 137A to 137B Underside: Near Yellow-Green Group 145C.

[0028]Petioles.—Approximately 24 mm long.

[0029]Leaf size.—To about 105 mm long and 72 mm wide.

[0030] Texture and substance: Glabrous

[0031] Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 (−20° to −10° F.)

[0032]Pests/Diseases.—No pest or disease problems noted.

INFLORESCENCE

[0033]Bloom period.—Spring to Summer.

[0034]Flower form.—Paniculate, both sterile, sepalous florets andfertile, asepalous florets borne on the same panicle.

[0035]Flower arrangement.—Rounded Flower size: Approximately 20 cm.

[0036]Quantity of florets per cluster.—Approximately 135 florets percluster Color: Sepal color is near Blue Group 104A at margins; rangingfrom Blue Group 105A-D approaching the center of sepal; and near BlueGroup 106C at center of sepal; sepal color can vary depending on soil pHand nutritional amendments supplied.

[0037]Shape of inflorescence.—Spherical clusters of numerous smallflorets are curved and the sepals of the floret overlap one another.Sepals elongate and become colored as the inflorescence matures.

[0038]Size of inflorescence.—The individual sterile florets are variablein size, but can measure up to 4 cm in diameter.

[0039] Pedicels:

[0040]Length.—2 to 2.5 cms.

[0041]Diameter.—Less than 1 mm.

[0042]Color.—Near Blue Group 104A.

[0043] Peduncles:

[0044]Length.—7 to 10 cms.

[0045]Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.

[0046]Color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 145C.

[0047] Fragrance: None noted

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0048] Stamens: 7 to 9 stamens. Pollen is white

[0049] Stigma: One three-pronged stigma

[0050] Fruit: Minute in appearance, less than 1 mm long and wide

[0051] Sepalous florets:

[0052]Number of sepals.—4; occasionally with a much reduced 5^(th)sepal.

[0053]Aspect of sepals.—Flower strongly cupped, with broadly overlappingsepals; sepals often strongly sulcate; occasionally twisted at the apex.

[0054] Size of sepals: Approximately 1 mm long and 1 mm wide

[0055] Shape of sepals: Ovate

[0056] Margins: Strongly serrated

I claim:
 1. A new plant of Hydrangea macrophylla of the varietysubstantially as shown and described.